Tom Izzo Michigan State ATO by John Zall
Although many do not consider this years Michigan State teams a Final Four contender, the 12-6 Spartans still possess one of the most potent offenses in the country. Michigan State is currently averaging 74 points-per-game with an effective field-goal percentage (eFG%) of 55%. They are scoring at a rate of 1.11 points-per-possession (PPP) which is ranks 36th in the country.
Michigan State has always used the possessions that occur after time outs (ATO) as an opportune time to run sets and score productively. Head Coach Tom Izzo has long been recognized as one of the top basketball minds in the country and his innovative sets are usually predicated on player movement both on the strong side of the floor, and the weak side. According to Synergy Sports, Michigan State is the 57th best team in the country at scoring after time outs. They are currently scoring at a rate of .92 PPP while shooting 45% from the floor. The Spartans score 42% of the time after a time-out, one of the best rates of the country.
The following video features some of their favorite ATO sets that they Spartans have been using in Big 10 Conference play, where they are currently 3-2 and in a tie for 6th place. As you will be able to see in the video, Michigan State uses stagger screens, ball-screens and changes sides of the floor that help effectively lead to open jump-shots and low post opportunities for their bigs.
In the first possession, Michigan State enters the ball into the pinch post and runs a continuous series of stagger screens to free up shooters. The second possession is a set the Spartans ran at the end of a half that includes a ball-screen where the screener rolls into a down screen for a jump shot. In the third possession Michigan State runs a back screen to the block for the inbounder and ends up getting a post isolation on the block. The fourth possession was a double screen the Spartans ran to start the game at the University of Iowa. In the fifth possession Michigan State runs a 4-high set that features a UCLA cut and an eventual down screen for the point guard. The sixth possession is another 4-high set that includes almost simultaneous curl cuts and leads to a post isolation. In the seventh possession the Spartans run a stagger back screen that turns into a “floppy” action that is common in the NBA. The cutter comes off the single side and dumps into the post for an isolation. In the final possession, Michigan State runs a series of screens that leads to a ball screen where the screener rolls to the empty side of the floor. The ball handler was able to turn the corner on the hedge and left the help defender to guard both the ball and the roller at the front of the rim.
John Zall BIO
Coach John Zall just completed his first season as an Assistant Coach at Division II Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, NH. This past season Franklin Pierce University won 20 games and advanced to the 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament. Zall arrived at Franklin Pierce after spending the past 3 seasons as the Associate Head Coach/Head JV Coach at O’Bryant High school in Roxbury, MA. During his tenure at O’Bryant the program improved from 4 wins to 12 wins and qualified for the MIAA State Tournament twice.
Coach Zall also has experience as an AAU Head Coach for the Boston Warriors. As Head Coach for the Warriors his team won the 2011 16U State Title and twice competed in AAU Nationals down in Orlando, FL. On top of being a student at Northeastern University, Zall was named Head Coach of the Men’s Club Basketball team for the 2012-13 season. During his lone season as Head Coach, Northeastern finished second in the Northeast Regional Tournament featuring colleges from throughout the East Coast. Coach Zall has also spent time as a Head Coach in the Bay State Games where his team won the Bronze Medal in 2012 and at various camps including: Five Star, Boston Celtics, NIKE, Franklin Pierce University, Hoop Group and The Elite 75.
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